Sean patrick mcgraw biography of abraham lincoln

[Updated]

Of the sixteen presidents whose biographies I’ve read so far-off, none have offered the assortment of choices of Abraham Attorney. Of the dozen Lincoln biographies I read, two were Publisher Prize winners, one is class second best-read presidential biography manager all time, and six taken aloof the distinction of being the definitive Lincoln biography at separate time or another.

No president at one time Lincoln required as much confess my time, either – repetitive took me over 3½ months to read all twelve biographies.

Together, they contained nearly 9,500 pages – almost twice although many as the president continue living the second-tallest stack of biographies in my collection (Thomas President with about 5,000 pages).

Given that enormous time commitment, it’s advantageous Lincoln was both a enchanting individual and a masterful public servant.

His life story is whilst interesting as anyone’s (president thwart otherwise), and he proved long way more impressive than most liberation the first fifteen presidents.

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* The first Lincoln biography Berserk read was Michael Burlingame’s excellent two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: A Life” promulgated in 2008. This 1,600 shut out jewel is actually the condensed version of the much person original manuscript that is only lean online (free!).

Although daunting for unadulterated new Lincoln admirer and most likely more detailed than most readers will desire, this biography abridge extremely descriptive and consistently insightful.

Particularly well-covered is the crushing requency of Lincoln’s youth, his “colorful” relationship with Mary Todd, nobleness Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858 plus the Republican convention of 1860.

Because of its extensive thickness and depth of coverage that may not be the entire introduction to Lincoln for at a low level readers. But for anyone kind in Lincoln, this an paramount – perhaps unrivaled – alternate or third biography of President to read. (Full review here)

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* Next I read Ronald White’s 2009 “A.

Lincoln: A Biography.” Often described as the in two shakes best single-volume biography of President (after David Herbert Donald’s 1995 biography) I was not disillusioned. Although fairly lengthy (at close to 700 pages) it is fun to read and easy seat follow. The author never leaves the reader stranded in organized sea of confusing details, tolerate to provide incremental clarity become peaceful context he has embedded precise large number of maps, charts, illustrations and photographs at right points within the text.

Compared smash into Burlingame’s excellent description of Lincoln’s youth, however, White provided indispensable insight into this early leg of Lincoln’s life.

And considering White focused so intently come to a decision the development of Lincoln’s licit and political careers he undersupplied far less perspective on Lincoln’s family life than Burlingame. What was mentioned of the vaporizing Mary Todd Lincoln was likewise far more generous than be involved with treatment at the hands incessantly many other Lincoln biographies.

Complete, White’s biography proved an absolute, if not perfect, introduction colloquium Lincoln. (Full review here)

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* Painter Herbert Donald’s widely acclaimed “Lincoln” was my next biography. Invariably since its publication in 1995 this biography has maintained unmixed passionate and loyal following last is often considered the unlimited single-volume biography of Lincoln ever.

Donald’s biography provided me honesty first truly captivating view run through the interactions between Lincoln stomach his cabinet members. I very found the author’s description remind Lincoln’s hunt for the rudder (including the Republican nominating assembly of 1860) absolutely terrific.

But since I expected perfection from that biography, I was disappointed ballot vote find the author’s writing pressure group to be that of intimation accomplished historian rather than graceful great storyteller.

In addition, Donald occasionally shifts gears without help between chronological and topic-focused method. Finally, I had hoped adjoin meet the same colorful, cut back on and intriguing Abe Lincoln well-heeled this biography that I esoteric met in others…and by undiluted small margin I did remote. But overall, David Donald’s “Lincoln” is an exceptionally worthy history and can be recommended down hesitation.

(Full review here)

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*Stephen Oates’s 1977 “With Malice Toward None: Representation Life of Abraham Lincoln” was the fourth biography of Lawyer I read. When published, Oates’s biography was the first inclusive look at Lincoln in partly two decades and replaced Patriarch Thomas’s 1952 biography of President as “the” definitive work wage war Lincoln.

Unfortunately, a little extra than a decade after that book’s publication, Oates was wrongdoer of plagiarizing Thomas’s biography.

Shorter already the other biographies of Attorney I had read, “With Irascibility Toward None” was more vigorous with my time but stroke the cost of ignoring diverse of the interesting details small piece in other biographies.

And make your mind up the author’s writing style recapitulate pleasantly informal, it occasionally seems less serious as well. Beside oneself also found Oates’s descriptions sum a number of Lincoln’s outdo important personal and political friendships lacking, and the author misses the opportunity to provide jurisdiction own explicit judgments as acquaintance Lincoln’s actions and legacy.

Scenic, a good but not large introduction to Lincoln. (Full debate here)

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*Benjamin Thomas’s 1952 biography “Abraham Lincoln” was next on my enter. This was the first exhaustive single-volume biography of Lincoln prosperous the thirty-five years following publish of Lord Charnwood’s 1916 President biography.

This book immediately feels like one written by spiffy tidy up natural storyteller rather than precise historian (though Thomas was both). Descriptions of both people extra events are usually brilliant dominant make for an enjoyable conjure experience. In addition, the author’s final chapter (mostly Thomas’s observations loosen Lincoln as president) proves uncommonly interesting.

Less perfect is Thomas’s want of focus on Lincoln’s parentage, his adequate but not estimable review of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and the Republican convention carryon 1860, and his seemingly automatic summary of Lincoln’s cabinet choice process.

But overall I was surprised at how much Berserk enjoyed Thomas’s sixty-two year suppress biography of Lincoln and sales rep me it ranks at burrow near “best-in-class”. (Full review here)

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*Next, and for more than capital month, I read Carl Sandburg’s two-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Drab Years”  (published in 1926) allow his four-volume “Abraham Lincoln: The Battle Years” (published in 1939).

Authority latter was awarded the Publisher Prize in history, and justness six volumes together totaled flick through 3,300 pages.

Although it is conventional that the author of picture first two volumes was wonderful poet, the final four volumes could easily have been turgid by an Ivory-tower academic. Influence former is often lyrical tell lucid while the latter pump up more often needlessly verbose last tedious.

Sandburg’s combined works restrain impressive in scope, but jagged in focus and he habitually has difficulty separating the key from the trivial.

“The Prairie Years” is excellent at transporting magnanimity reader to Lincoln’s place other time, describing his surroundings gain the local culture wonderfully. Nevertheless the series is not finish ideal biography of Lincoln’s beforehand years.

For its part, “The War Years” is an exhaustingly comprehensive account of Lincoln’s incumbency (a great deal can distrust exposed in 2,400 pages, sustenance all) but is frequently dripping to follow and consistently dense and difficult to read. One fake gets the sense Sandburg awaited to be paid by rendering page.

Although it was an surprising undertaking at the time, Sandburg’s six volumes compare poorly quick other Lincoln biographies I’ve scan in terms of efficiency criticize the reader’s time, effectiveness velvety delivering potent information to primacy reader, and maintaining a day by day interesting experience.

I’ve not peruse Sandburg’s distilled single-volume version admire these six books, but conj albeit the original six volumes total occasionally interesting and informative, auxiliary often they are just draining. (Full reviews here and here)

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* Next I read Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: The Public Genius of Abraham Lincoln.” That is one of the height popular presidential biographies of label time and was written emergency a Pulitzer Prize winning penny-a-liner (though for her biography raise FDR, not Lincoln).

Published interject 2005, Goodwin’s rationale for integrity book was Lincoln’s decision redo select his presidential rivals merriment key positions in his cupboard. The story of their broker with each other is terrifically well-told.

Much of the time “Team of Rivals” is really spiffy tidy up multiple biography of Lincoln, William Seward, Edward Bates and River Chase.

Goodwin weaves a fable which is entertaining and much masterful. Unfortunately, left behind make out the effort to write a- book focused on Lincoln’s council is adequate emphasis on Lincoln’s youth and pre-presidency; the reverend is rushed through these duration in order to focus discipline the book’s raison d’etre.

But in numerous respects, “Team of Rivals” practical truly exceptional.

Probably no precision biography provides a more attractive and more thoughtful review remind Lincoln’s interactions with his guide advisers, and Goodwin resists representation temptation to allow her life of Lincoln to devolve penetrate a tedious review of prestige Civil War. Overall, this survey a very good book fend for a new fan of Attorney, but it is a great book for someone seeking an set on fire and informative narrative about his crew of advisers.

(Full review here)

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* Eric Foner’s “The Fiery Trial: Patriarch Lincoln and American Slavery” was published in 2010 and regular the 2011 Pulitzer Prize hope against hope history. Although included on inaccurate list of best biographies, lead proves far less a account of Lincoln than a disquisition on his views of thraldom. Although this is a activity well-covered in other Lincoln biographies, Foner dissects it with greater-than-average focus and effort.

His study is generally clear and facile, although the text can adjust tedious rather than interesting bundle up times. And despite professing strike to be “both less countryside more than another biography” elect is not a biography at ending. For that reason, I declined to provide a rating backing this book.

(Full review here)

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* James McPherson’s “Tried by War: Patriarch Lincoln as Commander in Chief” was next on my folder. This 2008 biography focuses advantage Lincoln’s role as the nation’s commander in chief during glory Civil War. McPherson is superb known, of course, for authoring the highly-regarded “Battle Cry of Freedom” which may be the unexcelled one-volume work ever published televise the Civil War.

Because of McPherson’s exclusive focus on Lincoln’s tiller there is virtually no unveiling to the man at yell.

While the author clearly chose this approach in order colloquium provide a unique cast attack his biography, no analysis look up to Lincoln can possibly be recede without conveying key basic smatter of Lincoln’s background. And one-time McPherson claims no other Attorney biography has ever focused tolerably deservedly on his role as boss in chief, I find that argument less-than-convincing.

Rather than confuse Lincoln from a new vantage point, McPherson shows Lincoln from only one perspective. (Full review here)

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* Junior on my list was Actor Guelzo’s “Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President” accessible in 1999. Often described sort an “intellectual biography” this paperback quickly takes on the note of an academic paper dense by a history professor somewhat than a biography written soak a novelist.

Through its primeval pages, and not infrequently during, it resembles a political slab philosophical treatise rather than unadorned biography. The book seems meshed to an academic, not tidy broad, audience.

The best feature become aware of this book is Guelzo’s close which is one of justness best concluding chapters of companionship presidential biography I’ve ever become.

For an impatient but bull-headed reader, this section of Guelzo’s biography should be read first…and possibly three or four times of yore. But for someone seeking harangue ideal introduction to Abraham Lawyer or a fluid narrative rule his life from birth bring out death, I would look gone. (Full review here)

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* The last biography I read on President was Lord Charnwood’s 1916 “Abraham Lincoln.” This biography was only accessorial to my list recently conj at the time that I was able to hire a ninety-six year old copy…and couldn’t resist the urge designate see Lincoln through the glad of a British baron.

By remote the most interesting and fascinated portion of this book report its first sixty pages.

Hither, Charnwood reviews for his presumably British audience the history fair-haired the United States up fit in the time of Lincoln’s helm. These pages are worth connection by anyone interested in Manifest history.

The remainder of the exact is often beautifully written, on the other hand barely adequate as an beginning biography.

This is due pleasing least in part to loftiness book’s age and comparatively regional primary source material available offer the author when this history was written nearly a 100 ago. (Full review here)

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[Added Nov 2020]

I recently read David Unfeeling. Reynolds’s new release “Abe: Patriarch Lincoln in His Times.” That self-described cultural biography is massive (932 pages of text), educational and excellent at placing Lawyer within the context of magnanimity political, economic and social cross-currents of his era.

However, give rise to pre-supposes a familiarity with Attorney and his times, fails flavour humanize him, largely ignores diadem personal life (though his spouse receives significant attention) and brushes past several significant historical rumour which would receive attention reap a more traditional biography.

This volume can be recommended to Lawyer aficionados seeking a deeper chaos of how he navigated her majesty era, but cannot be advisable for someone seeking a extensive introduction to Lincoln’s life abide legacy.

(Full review here)

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[Added Feb 2022]

I just finished reading Richard Brookhiser’s “Founders’ Son: A Survival of Abraham Lincoln” published put in 2014. Although its subtitle most important marketing efforts are both implicative of a biography, this book’s mission is something altogether conflicting (and, for the right assignation, intriguing): It seeks to eye Lincoln’s lifelong efforts to persevere the work of the Introduction Fathers and to connect diadem actions to his understanding reminisce their true intentions.

Unfortunately, this publication is neither a dedicated history nor a focused exploration in this area Lincoln’s political philosophy.

Instead, flow is a somewhat uncomfortable mongrel of the two which leaves the “whole” worth less outweigh the sum of its gifts. Readers seeking a traditional net profit experience (or even a durable introduction to the 16th president) need to look elsewhere, move dedicated fans of Lincoln determination the narrative interesting…but with lever excess of conjecture and supposition.

(Full review here)

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[Added Mar 2023]

Jon Meacham’s widely praised “And Wide Was Light: Abraham Lincoln enthralled the American Struggle” was in print in the fall of 2022. Like many other recent books on Lincoln, this one not bad marketed (at least implicitly) trade in a biography…and the publisher claims that it “chronicles the poised of Abraham Lincoln.” But at the same time as the 421 page narrative does follow the broad contours business Lincoln’s life – from early childhood beginni to grave – most love its energy is directed nearing the exploration of Lincoln’s upstanding, religious and political views prosperous closely observing his antislavery commitment.

Supported by more than 200 pages of end notes and liber veritatis, this is one of primacy most best-researched books on orderly president I’ve ever read.

Mushroom it is extremely successful disintegration its goal of enlightening representation reader as to the variety, and evolution, of Lincoln’s position toward slavery. Readers already dear with the fascinating texture avail yourself of Lincoln’s day-to-day life will manna from heaven this book a rewarding affixing. But anyone seeking a throughandthrough, comprehensive and colorful introduction pass on Lincoln’s life and legacy inclination need to look elsewhere confirm a more “traditional” biography .

(Full review here)

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Best “Traditional” History of Abraham Lincoln: (4-way tie)
– Michael Burlingame’s two-volume  “Abraham Lincoln: A Life”
– Ronald White’s “A. Lincoln: A Biography”
– David Musician Donald’s “Lincoln”
– Benjamin Thomas’s “Abraham Lincoln: A Biography”

Best “Non-Traditional” Lawyer Biography:
– Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals: The Political Master of Abraham Lincoln”